[Buddha-l] How to help the Dharma grow in the USA

[jkirk]

Re: the CSM article.

Well, I know a guy, my computer guru to be precise,  who joined a rousing 
evangelical- services- with- muzak (that's what I call the various dumming 
bouts and heavy metal additions to church) outfit when he was pre-21, and 
lasted two years in the fold. Now all he does is sport a "Got Jesus?" bumper 
sticker.

This country has so lost any semblance of any culture, except for immigrants 
who are being dailybrow-beaten to shed theirs, that the Gen-Y (is that the 
term used these days for 20-30 somethings) won't last long on this new 
route, either. Hollow consumerism, and sham funerals such as we've been 
subjected to for the past week since a former fairly untalented president 
died, are all we have left. I bet Dubya gets a state funeral when he kicks. 
After killing Saddam, now many are feeling guilty because we supported him 
for so long and then turned on him.
It's another version of necrophilia, wallowing in guilt and lies after a 
funeral.

Media and consumer necrophilia rules the day. The rampant materialism of 
this country is simply another form of "necrophilia, love of dead things." 
What are most video games about? killing people. What is this country 
officially about? killing people. The ahimsa of Buddhism is far from our 
shores.

Necrophilia has invaded and now dominates Thailand, only nominally Buddhist 
today, as they grab as much as they can of contemporary materialism and 
stuff, while evangelicals missionize the people with Jesus. (Some 
evangelical churches in the USA today preach that "Jesus WANTS you to make 
money. Praise the Lord.")  Last time I was in Chaing Mai I couldn't believe 
my eyes: they had a shopping mall with escalators. Reminded me of Buddhism's 
levels of hells as people traveled up and down on it while stereos blasted 
at top decibels pop songs for the masses. Just like here.
Thus, I predict that when the current younger folks finally get fed up with 
mass consumerism and no-culture, they won't turn to religion--any kind 
of--but instead will turn to terrorism, as they are now doing in tough 
neighborhoods of wasted cities around the global capitalism circuit. It will 
just spread.
Joanna




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Hayes" <rhayes at unm.edu>
To: <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 10:12 AM
Subject: [Buddha-l] How to help the Dharma grow in the USA


> Dear denizens,
>
> I begin every year feeling convinced thatthis will surely be the
> lastyear in which people continue to show an interest in Buddhism and
> other Asian religions and philosophies. The baby boomers are returning
> to their cultural roots, and their children and grandchildren never
> shared their parent's fascination with alternatives to Western
> materialism anyway. For most young people in the xenophobic culture of
> the United States, everything good about Asia has already found its way
> itno restaurants, video games and action movies. Who needs to study
> Asian languages, history and culture? (Who, think most young Americans,
> needs to study ANY languages, history or culture?)
>
> Buddhist temples, churches and centers are growing increasingy empty,
> populated only by a few pot-bellied former pot-smoking hippies who just
> can't let go of their misspent youths. The Zen cushion has given way to
> the wheelchair. Can Buddhism survive another year in America?
>
> The following article from the Christian Science Monitor suggests a
> solution. If the aim is to fill dharma centers again the answer may be
> to provide more drums, more guys and less reverence. (But hasn't Zen
> already been doing that for decades?)
>
> Have a noisy year beating your Dharma-damaru,
> Richard
>
> ====================================================================
>
> Click here to read this story online:
> http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0103/p01s01-ussc.html